For nearly three months, Gumdrop wandered around Madison waiting for someone to help him. Hotel staff in the area had seen him lingering near doors and in alleyways, but when one of them noticed he had a collar tightly wrapped around his neck and front leg, they realized he needed urgent help. They gently caught him and brought him to Dane County Humane Society (DCHS). He was fearful, anxious, and dehydrated, covered in dirt and small wounds and scrapes from his time on the streets, but he was still friendly despite his obvious pain. Our veterinary team quickly determined he had a severe tail injury that required amputation and he needed treatment for the wounds caused by his twisted collar.
A few days later, Gumdrop underwent surgery to remove his tail and close the wound in his armpit, along with some dental work to remove a few fractured and broken teeth. The surgery went well, and Gumdrop’s tail healed beautifully, but what should have been a straightforward recovery ran into some serious complications.
During a routine post-surgery check, a staff member noticed Gumdrop’s armpit injury had re-opened. The wound was swollen and painful, and his skin had torn around the sutures. Every time he moved his front leg, the friction and motion around the wound site would make the injury worse. A volunteer noticed that Gumdrop, who normally demanded full-body pets, no longer wanted to be touched around his shoulder, indicating he was feeling a lot of pain.
Gumdrop returned to our veterinary team to have the wound cleaned and re-sutured so that it could heal properly, his second time under anesthesia since arriving at the shelter. He seemed to be recovering well, and was about to be made available for adoption when another volunteer noticed some redness and sensitivity around his wound again. Our vets suspected that, due to the high-friction nature of a cat's armpit, it would just take longer than most wounds to heal. To make sure Gumdrop was as comfortable as possible, they removed him from the adoption list and performed one more procedure, cleaning out the wound one final time and giving him the best chance for a complete recovery.
Luckily, this time Gumdrop healed quickly, and a few days after his last procedure he was finally ready to find his new home!
As DCHS’s team gave him the extra medical care and attention he needed to heal, his personality quickly began to emerge. He gained a reputation for being sweet, quirky, and extremely food-motivated, and he became a staff favorite for his dramatic antics. He would flop down for pets as care staff tried to walk past him, demanding attention and treats in equal measure. Despite his difficult life on the street and his slow recovery, Gumdrop quickly showed he was a resilient and lovable cat, ready to start a new chapter.
That fresh start came in the form of an adopter named Sara. One spring afternoon, Sara’s kids started asking about adopting a cat. When they found Gumdrop’s profile on the DCHS website, they knew right away they wanted to meet him. Although Sara initially wasn’t sure about adding another pet to the family with their dog Pip already in the mix, the more she thought about it, the more she liked the idea of adopting a cat in need of a family, especially one from DCHS's Lonely Hearts Club who had been waiting longer for a new home.
However, by the time Sara was ready to move forward, Gumdrop’s profile had disappeared from the DCHS website as he underwent surgery. But she thought, "He must have been adopted." A few days later, she checked again and there he was, still available for adoption. Sara took it as a sign, and that afternoon she and the kids went to meet Gumdrop. It didn’t take long for them to fall in love with Gumdrop, now named George, and they brought him home as soon as they could.
After only an hour in his new home, George started exploring, adjusting to his new surroundings, and making himself comfortable. Though he wasn’t quite sure about Pip at first, with some patience and a slow introduction, George and Pip quickly became best friends. Now, the two of them can often be found in the same room, grooming each other or playing chase.
George’s new life is now full of adventures. He took over the house, claiming spots on the couch, demanding attention, and even finding his way into the pantry to drag out bags of treats. He’s adapted so well to life without a tail that his family often forgets he’s missing one. His love for food and his energetic antics are just a few of the things that make him such a fun addition to the family.
From the moment he arrived at the shelter, the expertise and compassion of DCHS’s dedicated staff helped George get back on his paws and ready for adoption. This #GivingTuesday, your support goes directly to meeting the needs of more animals like George. By giving to DCHS, you will help provide the care that allows animals to rest, heal, and find their new beginnings.
Happy #GivingTuesday from George and all the animals at DCHS!
